Evaluation of transoperatory ventilation modalities by a questionnaire

Abstracts

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Os aparelhos de anestesia vêm possibilitando reduzir repercussões fisiológicas e problemas causados por ventilação mecânica. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar, retrospectivamente, os métodos e recursos de suporte ventilatório utilizados por um grupo de anestesiologistas em pacientes sem lesão pulmonar prévia no período intraoperatório. MÉTODO: Um questionário anônimo, com 27 questões objetivas, foi aplicado em um grupo composto por médicos anestesiologistas e em especialização que atuam em diferentes hospitais privados na cidade de São Paulo. Os questionários foram aplicados em um período de 15 dias. Observaram-se os padrões ventilatórios, a pressão positiva ao final da expiração (PEEP), o recrutamento alveolar e o cálculo do volume-corrente empregado com intubação traqueal. RESULTADOS: Os participantes foram predominantemente do sexo masculino, 40,5% com título superior em Anestesiologia (TSA), e a maioria concluiu a especialização há menos de 10 anos. A maior parte dos anestesiologistas faz uso de PEEP rotineiramente, entre 5 e 10 cmH2O. Fluxo de gases frescos acima de 1.000 mL.min-1 ainda é utilizado pela maior parte dos anestesiologistas. Manobras de recrutamento alveolar são realizadas por 80% dos entrevistados, logo após a intubação e antes da desintubação, sendo a estratégia mais comum a insuflação com 40 cmH2O por 15 segundos. Quanto às estratégias protetoras de ventilação, apenas 30% utilizam volume-corrente < 7 mL.kg-1, com frações inspiradas de oxigênio entre 40% e 60%. CONCLUSÕES: Este estudo descritivo permite afirmar que, nos hospitais avaliados, grande parte dos anestesiologistas utiliza recursos visando minimizar eventual repercussão da ventilação controlada mecânica. Esses dados podem orientar o desenvolvimento de programas de educação médica continuada em ventilação mecânica associada à anestesia, visando à segurança e à melhora do atendimento ao paciente.

EQUIPAMENTOS; VENTILAÇÃO; pressão positiva ao final da expiração

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: Los aparatos de anestesia han venido posibilitando la reducción de las repercusiones fisiológicas y de los problemas causados por la ventilación mecánica. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar de forma retrospectiva, los métodos y los recursos de ayuda ventilatoria utilizados por un grupo de anestesiólogos en pacientes sin lesión pulmonar previa en el período intraoperatorio. MÉTODO: Un cuestionario no identificado, con 27 preguntas objetivas, se aplicó a un grupo compuesto por médicos anestesiólogos y en especialización que actúan en diferentes hospitales privados en la ciudad de São Paulo. Los cuestionarios se aplicaron en un período de 15 días. Se observaron los estándares ventilatorios, la presión positiva al final de la expiración (PEEP), el reclutamiento alveolar y el cálculo del volumen corriente que se usó con intubación traqueal. RESULTADOS: Los participantes fueron predominantemente del sexo masculino, un 40,5% con título superior en Anestesiología (TSA), y la mayoría que terminó la especialización hace menos de 10 años. La mayor parte de los anestesiólogos utiliza el PEEP como rutina, entre 5 y 10 cmH2O. Gran parte de los anestesiólogos todavía usa el flujo de gases frescos por encima de 1000 mL.min-1. Las maniobras de reclutamiento alveolar son hechas por un 80% de los entrevistados después de la intubación y antes de la retirada de los tubos, siendo la estrategia más común la insuflación con 40 cmH2O por 15 segundos. En cuanto a las estrategias protectoras de ventilación, apenas 30% utilizan volumen corriente < 7 mL.kg-1, con fracciones inspiradas de oxígeno entre 40 y 60%. CONCLUSIONES: Este estudio descriptivo permite afirmar que en los hospitales evaluados, gran parte de los anestesiólogos utiliza recursos para minimizar una eventual repercusión de la ventilación controlada mecánica. Esos datos pueden orientar el desarrollo de programas de educación médica continua en ventilación mecánica, asociada a la anestesia para garantizar así la seguridad y la mejoría de la atención al paciente.

SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE

Evaluation of transoperatory ventilation modalities by a questionnaire

Angel Soubhie^I; Enis Donizetti Silva, TSA^II; Claudia Marquez Simões, TSA^III; Fábio Henrique Gregory, TSA^II; Arthur Vitor Segurado, TSA^IV; Cássio Campello de Menezes, TSA^V

^IAnesthesiologist of the Cancer Institute of Estado de São Paulo (ICESP, from the Portuguese) and of São Paulo Serviços Médicos de Anestesia Ltda

^IIAnesthesiologist; Co-responsible for CET São Paulo Serviços Médicos de Anestesia Ltda

^IIICoordinator of the Anesthesia Service of ICESP, of Secretaria de Estado da Saúde and Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo; Co-responsible for CET São Paulo Serviços Médicos de Anestesia Ltda

^IVAnesthesiologist of CET São Paulo Serviços Médicos de Anestesia Ltda

^VAnesthesiologist; Responsible for CET São Paulo Serviços Médicos de Anestesia Ltda

Correspondence to

SUMMARY

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Anesthesia devices have been making it possible to reduce the physiological repercussions and problems caused by mechanical ventilation. The objective of this study was to evaluate, retrospectively, ventilatory methods and support resources used by a group of anesthesiologists in patients without prior lung damage in the intraoperative period.

METHODS: A non-identifiable questionnaire composed of 27 questions was applied to a group of anesthesiologists and anesthesiology residents who work at different private hospitals in the city of São Paulo. The questionnaires were applied over a 15-day period. Ventilation patterns, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), alveolar recruitment maneuvers, and the calculation of the tidal volume used with tracheal intubation were observed.

RESULTS: Participants were predominantly males, 40.5% bearing the Anesthesiology Superior Title (TSA), and the majority concluded their residency less than 10 years ago. Most anesthesiologists used PEEP, between 5 and 10 cmH₂O, routinely. Fresh gas flow above 1,000 mL.min^-1 is still used by most anesthesiologists. Alveolar recruitment maneuvers were performed by 80% of those interviewed, shortly after intubation and before removing the ET tube with the most common strategy insufflation with 40 cmH₂O for 15 seconds. As for strategies to protect ventilation, only 30% used a tidal volume with less than 7 mL.kg^-1 with inspired oxygen fraction between 40% and 60%.

CONCLUSIONS: This descriptive study allows us to state that in the hospitals evaluated the majority of anesthesiologists uses resources to minimize eventual repercussions of controlled mechanical ventilation. This data can orient the development of continuing medical education programs in mechanical ventilation associated with anesthesia aiming to safety and improvement of patient care.

Keywords: EQUIPMENT: ventilator; VENTILATION: controlled mechanical, positive end-expiratory pressure.

INTRODUCTION

Mechanical ventilation (MV) represents a method of temporary substitution of normal respiratory function. It contributes for increasing survival in many clinical situations, but when improperly used it increases the morbidity and mortality rates. The evolution of anesthesia devices, by means of introducing new safety and monitoring resources, allows the reduction of the physiological repercussions and problems caused by MV.

General anesthesia with MV can lead to the development of atelectasis, reduction in lung volume, and reduction of functional residual capacity (FRC), resulting in an increase in intrapulmonary shunt that can lead to postoperative decrease in arterial and tissue oxygenation. Ventilatory support also causes changes in the muscular respiratory work resulting from a reduction in complacence of the respiratory system and increase in airways resistance to the flow of gas.

Those changes can become more severe depending on the surgical technique or patient characteristics. Laparoscopic surgeries (reduced FRC by the pneumoperitoneum and predisposition to form atelectasis), surgeries with monopulmonary ventilation, cardiac surgeries (the lungs are not ventilated during extracorporeal circulation), and obese (reduced FRC) and pediatric (when maintained in spontaneous ventilation) patients can evolve with worse postoperative arterial oxygenation.

Some maneuvers have been studied to avoid the changes mentioned. The use of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and alveolar recruitment maneuvers (ARM) are important resources to recruit collapsed alveolar units, increasing the lung area available for gas exchange.

With the development and modernization of ventilators, new flow patterns have been used, decreasing the physiological disruption. The current tendency is to use decelerating flow ventilation, therefore minimizing the hemodynamic and ventilatory repercussions with better pattern of pulmonary distribution.

Even for a short period, mechanical ventilation implies significant inflammatory changes in the lungs. The protective ventilation strategy with low tidal volume (< 7 mL.kg^-1) associated with PEEP limits those changes by reducing the levels of inflammatory mediators, both in the lungs and systemically, in patients without preexisting lung disease.

Patients ventilated with high tidal volumes without PEEP have permanent mechanical and histological changes in the airways, besides pro-coagulation and inflammatory activities in the lungs. This ventilatory strategy promotes deposition of fibrin in the airways by three mechanisms: increased pro-coagulant activity, relative protein C insufficiency, and inhibition of fibrinolysis. Fibrin deposits lead to inactivation or reduction of the surfactant, provoking alveoli instability and collapse.

So far, it is not possible to state that a standardized MV in anesthesia exists considering different situations such as duration of the procedure, type of surgical intervention, and preoperative pulmonary capacity.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate retrospectively the ventilatory profile used in different intraoperative situations.

METHODS

A non-identifiable questionnaire composed of 27 objective questions was sent to a group of anesthesiologists who work in three different private tertiary hospitals in the city of São Paulo (Hospital Sírio-Libanês, Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz, and Hospital Samaritano). This group has a total of 60 anesthesiologists and eight residents (first, second and third year residents of the program of Medical Residency in Anesthesiology of the Hospital Sírio-Libanês).

The questionnaires were applied at the different hospitals during a 15-day period. All questions involved situations in which patients did not have pulmonary diseases. Thoracic and cardiac surgeries were excluded.

Anesthesiologists were classified according to gender, time in Anesthesiology, and whether they held an Anesthesiology Superior Title (TSA, from the Portuguese). Data on ventilatory patterns used, resources available for monitoring ventilation, use of PEEP, alveolar recruitment, calculus of the tidal volume used, and use of the laryngeal mask were all collected.

RESULTS

During the evaluation period, out of 60 anesthesiologists, five were on vacation (8.3%), one resident was on an external rotation (1.6%), and 17 did not want to participate (28.3%) for a total of 37 questionnaires answered. The population was predominantly male (70.3%), 40.5% had the TSA, and the majority had concluded their residency less than 10 years ago (64.9%). Most participants had available a transport ventilation device (91.9%) (Table I).

The majority of anesthesiologists (94.6%) used PEEP routinely. Out of those, 65.4% use levels of PEEP between 5 and 10 cmH₂O. When questioned about the calculations used to obtain the level of PEEP, 80% were based on physiological levels, 5.7% used the pressure-volume curve, 5.7% were based on the levels of pulmonary complacency, and 5.7% used other type of calculation. Fresh gas flow over 1,000 mL.min^-1 is used by 59.5% of the professional, and 86.5% use a FiO₂ ranging from 40 to 60%. Among those interviewed, 78.4% performed intraoperative alveolar recruitment maneuvers after intubation (27.7%), before removing the ET tube (40.5%) or in both moments (24.3%), and the most common strategy used is insufflation with 40 cmH₂O for 15 seconds (41.8%).

As for strategies to protect ventilation, only 30% use a tidal volume lower than 7 mL.kg^-1, and 70% use volumes between 7 and 10 mL.kg^-1. Most anesthesiologists interviewed use an inspired fraction of oxygen between 40 and 60% (86.5%), and only 13.5% use FiO₂ below 40% (Table II).

DISCUSSION

This descriptive study allows us to state that in the hospitals evaluated the patterns of mechanical ventilation adopted are aimed at minimizing the repercussion of controlled mechanical ventilation by using resources like PEEP and ARM.

Almost all anesthesiologists use PEEP routinely with levels from 5 to 10 cmH₂O. Intraoperative ARM, used by 68.2% of the anesthesiologists interviewed, improves postoperative oxygenation and reverses atelectasis in patients under general anesthesia. Thus, it interferes positively in post-anesthetic recovery of patients reducing the need of postoperative oxygen supplementation and pulmonary complications.

On the other hand, protective strategies of mechanical ventilation, such as using low inspired oxygen fractions, low flow of fresh gases, and low tidal volume could be used more widely in anesthesia with potential benefits for patients.

The choice of inspired fraction of oxygen (FiO₂) is an important factor, especially in cases with prolonged mechanical ventilation. It is known that oxygen toxicity has a direct relationship to the concentration and the time of exposure. High concentrations can cause damage by hyperoxia and microatelectasis due to absorption. Currently, a FiO₂ between 40 and 50% is considered safe.

The fresh gas flow used was above the predicted to characterize low flow anesthesia (1,000 mL.min^-1), allowing the conclusion that it is not commonly used in the hospitals evaluated. This anesthetic technique conserves the humidity and temperature of the airways and promotes a reduction in environmental pollution and consumption of inhalational anesthetics. However, it requires close monitoring due to the potential risk of hypoxemia and hypercapnia.

Mechanical ventilation with high tidal volumes represents a pro-inflammatory stimulus in healthy lungs. The inflammatory responses observed are adaptation to the process of artificial MV. Patients ventilated with low tidal volumes are at a lower risk of pulmonary infections, besides decreasing the length of stay in intensive care units.

Ventilation during anesthesia should take into consideration the anatomical, physiological, and pathologic particularities of each patient, and it is up to the anesthesiologist to implement new concepts that increase safety, reduce costs, and increase efficacy without compromising oxygenation and ventilation. The knowledge of those resources that in the past were only available in intensive care units is essential. New anesthesia devices have new ventilatory strategies that adequate the ventilatory support of severely ill patients, who are increasingly undergoing more surgical or diagnostic procedures that need anesthesia and controlled mechanical ventilation.

The results of the present study indicate the need of standardizing mechanical ventilation. It would be necessary to document the clinical evolution of those patients to determine the characteristics related to the length of anesthesia, type of surgery, and the patient, constituting an agenda for future studies. Few epidemiological studies on intraoperative ventilation patterns are available, and the results obtained by this questionnaire provide a guideline for continuing medical education actions to improve care.

REFERENCES

Received from Hospital Sírio Libanês Serviços Médicos de Anestesia Ltda.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  23 Aug 2010
• Date of issue
  Aug 2010

History

• Received
  11 Oct 2009
• Accepted
  24 Mar 2010